Crossroads Caring For Life

What Crossroads Caring For Life does

Crossroads Caring For Life is a UK-registered charity headquartered in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, delivering home-based care and carer-support services across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Its roots date to 1974, with the current legal entity constituted in 2007 and brought into the Carers Trust network via a 2012 merger. The organisation operates four core service lines: homecare visits, dedicated carers breaks, a day centre, and volunteer-led support, drawing on a paid workforce in the 101–250 employee band and more than 40 trained volunteers.

Service delivery is supported by third-party electronic care planning platforms, specifically Nourish Care and PASS for Care, used for scheduling and care recording. The organisation is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, holding a current "Good" rating that is the statutory threshold for delivering regulated personal care in England and is also a baseline credential in local-authority tendering. Reported employee engagement metrics (97% staff pride rating, Best Companies World Class 2025, HCPA Silver Engagement Award 2026) are materially above typical sector benchmarks for a UK care charity.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining publicly commissioned contracts — most notably a Hertfordshire County Council contract for the Helping You Care service launched in May 2025 covering North Herts and Stevenage — and direct payments from self-funded individual service users. Published pricing is £24.50–£35.80 per homecare visit and £27.24 per hour for Carers Breaks. In 2026 the organisation extended its offering with a new Domestic Support cleaning service, broadening the product line into adjacent household support within its existing geographic and referral footprint.

Name

Crossroads Caring For Life

Legal name

Crossroads Caring for Life Ltd

Website

https://crossroadscaring.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Crossroads Caring For Life is a UK charity, headquartered in Hitchin, providing homecare, carers breaks, day centre and volunteer support services to individuals and families across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, with services commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council and accessed via self-pay.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homecare and Respite Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency / On-Demand Respite Care (HSABAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Volunteer & Companion Support Services (Hospice Volunteer Programs) (HSABAFAO), Live-In Respite Care (Multi-Day) (HSABAGAC)

Keywords

• Homecare services
• Respite care
• Domiciliary care
• Day centre services
• Carer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Hitchin

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Care Services: Contracted services funded by Hertfordshire County Council for eligible residents, including the Helping You Care scheme providing 12 hours of funded respite over 8 weeks for unpaid carers in North Herts and Stevenage
2. Self-Funded Homecare: Hourly-rate homecare services paid directly by clients: 30 minutes £24.50, 45 minutes £29.80, 1 hour £35.80. Also Carers Breaks at £27.24 per hour (minimum 2 hours) and Day Centre sessions at £25-£45
3. Donations and Fundraising: One-off and regular donations through CAF (Charities Aid Foundation), legacy giving through Wills, EasyFundraising (shopping donations), North Herts Community Lottery. Funds raised support not-for-profit operations
4. Legacy Giving: Gifts in Wills including pecuniary legacies (fixed amounts), residuary legacies (estate balance), and item legacies (property, shares, furniture). Can reduce inheritance tax liability

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Crossroads Caring for Life is an independent not-for-profit charity that delivers domiciliary homecare and respite services for adults with care needs and their unpaid carers across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Core offerings include regular Homecare visits, Carers Breaks (respite care), the Stevenage Day Centre Activity Club, Breakaway Volunteers companionship visits, the funded Helping You Care scheme, and a new Domestic Support cleaning service.

Product overview

Crossroads Caring for Life is a not-for-profit charity offering a portfolio of homecare and respite services across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The core offering comprises four interconnected services: Homecare (domiciliary visits for daily living support), Carers Breaks (respite care giving unpaid carers time to recharge), the Activity Club at Stevenage Day Centre (group sessions for older and disabled adults), and Breakaway Volunteers (free companion visits). A fifth offering, Helping You Care, is a funded sub-service available specifically in North Herts and Stevenage, providing free preventative respite funded by Hertfordshire County Council. A sixth service, Domestic Support, is a new cleaning service launched in 2026. Together these services are designed to prevent unpaid carer burnout, support independent living at home, and promote community wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homecare Domiciliary care service providing regular home visits from trained, enhanced DBS-checked Support Workers to assist adults aged 18+ with daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, medication, meals, companionship, and household tasks. Visits range from 30 minutes to 1 hour, scheduled from weekly to multiple daily visits between 7am and 10pm. Self-funded pricing: 30 minutes £24.50, 45 minutes £29.80, 1 hour £35.80.
• Carers Breaks Respite care service providing temporary care for the individual an unpaid carer supports, including personal care, companionship, daily tasks and family communication, allowing the carer to rest and recharge. Minimum 2-hour visits at £27.24 per hour (self-funded). Also available at no cost through the funded Helping You Care scheme in North Herts and Stevenage.
• Activity Club (Stevenage Day Centre) Weekly group sessions for older and disabled adults in Stevenage, providing social activities, care and support in a home-from-home living room atmosphere. Activities include arts and crafts, music, games, gentle exercise, reminiscence therapy and outings. Supports up to 8 members per day with 2 Support Workers and 1 volunteer. Wednesdays and Fridays £45, Thursdays £25, half days £25. Community Drop-in on Tuesdays is free.
• Breakaway Volunteers Free volunteer visiting service for carers of individuals new to care who do not require practical or personal care. Over 40 DBS-checked trained volunteers provide 1-3 hour companionship visits covering activities such as baking, crosswords, puzzles, walks and hobbies. Completely free of charge with expenses covered by Crossroads.
• Helping You Care Funded preventative carer support service available in North Herts and Stevenage, providing at least 12 hours of free Carers Breaks over 8 weeks. Includes weekly tailored care visits for the individual supported, practical advice, wellbeing tips, In Case of Emergency plans, and community signposting. Funded entirely by Hertfordshire County Council. Eligibility: unpaid carers aged 18+ supporting someone in North Herts or Stevenage who have not previously received a Carer's Assessment.
• Domestic Support New cleaning service delivered by an enhanced DBS-checked Support Worker trained in person-centred care, providing high-quality domestic cleaning support for clients in their homes. Accessed via enquiry through the Crossroads contact form.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of staff feel proud to work at Crossroads
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026HCPA recognises care organisations investing in leadership development, quality assurance, continuous improvement, staff engagement and professional growth. Crossroads achieved Silver Engagement Award from HCPA.
• Hertfordshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hertfordshire County Council funds the Helping You Care service, providing 12 hours of funded carer respite over 8 weeks for unpaid carers in North Herts and Stevenage. Crossroads was awarded the Helping You Care (HYC) contract to provide fully funded care to unpaid carers waiting for formal Carer's Assessment.
• Hitchin Tilehouse Rotary ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Partnership to run the GP-led Carers Café at St Mary's Church, Hitchin. Rotary Club provides dedicated volunteers and organizes the weekly Friday morning sessions. This is the first Carers Café in the county run by a GP.
• Carers TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012In 2012, Crossroads Care joined forces with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers to form Carers Trust - now the UK's largest charity supporting unpaid carers. Historical partnership that established Crossroads as part of a national network.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)coreOthersIndependent regulator of health and social care in England. Crossroads is registered and inspected by CQC, holding a Good rating. Data sharing occurs for safeguarding and regulatory compliance purposes.
• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCAF provides the online donation platform (cafdonate.cafonline.org/14565) enabling one-off and regular donations to Crossroads. Partnership allows donors to give securely online.
• North Herts Community LotteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCrossroads receives support through the North Herts Community Lottery where players can choose to support the charity. Tickets cost £1 each with 1 in 50 chance of winning prizes.
• EasyFundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership enabling supporters to raise free donations when shopping online at over 7,000 retailers. Joins over 2.4 million people raising free donations for charity.
• GPs and NHS ProfessionalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrossroads works with GP practices and NHS professionals for care coordination and referrals. GP-led Carers Café model demonstrates successful health-social care integration. Data sharing occurs as needed for care planning.
• Hertfordshire Community TransportminorOthersReferral resource for clients needing transport assistance. Helps older and disabled people access services and maintain independence through community transport options.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Home Instead UK: National franchise network providing personalised homecare services (companionship, personal care, dementia care, live-in care) to older adults across the UK. Competitor for the same self-pay homecare visits and respite services offered by Crossroads, but operates a commercial franchise model rather than charity status.
• Right at Home UK: Franchised homecare provider delivering personal care, respite, and dementia support to adults in their own homes. Competes for the same Hertfordshire self-pay homecare clients with a structured franchise delivery model.
• Carers Trust: UK's largest charity supporting unpaid carers, formed in 2012 when Crossroads Care merged with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Operates a network of local carer support services across the UK; Crossroads Caring for Life is itself an affiliate member, making it the network's most direct comparand for service mix and beneficiary type.
• Bluebird Care: National homecare franchise delivering personal care, respite, dementia support, and live-in care across the UK including Hertfordshire. Direct competitor for Crossroads' homecare and Carers Breaks services, operating for-profit in the same geographies with similar hourly visit model.
• Helping Hands Home Care: Established UK homecare provider offering domiciliary care, respite, dementia and live-in care on a self-funded and direct-payment basis. Comparable to Crossroads' homecare and Carers Breaks offerings with broader geographic reach but private-pay commercial positioning.

Direct peers

• Carers in Hertfordshire: Local charity providing information, advice, training, and respite services specifically for unpaid family carers in Hertfordshire. Directly comparable mission and target beneficiary to Crossroads' unpaid-carer-focused services, including the Helping You Care-style preventative support.
• Age UK Hertfordshire: Regional Age UK charity delivering information, advice, and direct services (day centres, home help, befriending) to older adults and unpaid carers across Hertfordshire. Operates in the same geography with overlapping services for elderly residents and unpaid carers, including dementia support and home-from-hospital services.

Emerging players

• Alzheimer's Society: UK dementia charity offering information, support services, and dementia-friendly community programmes including day services and carer respite. Overlaps with Crossroads' dementia-relevant care and family-carer support segments.
• Disabilities Trust: National charity providing community support, respite, and residential services for adults with physical disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injury. Comparable in the respite and supported-living category but skewed toward residential rather than home-based delivery.

Others

• Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA): Membership body representing care providers in Hertfordshire. Crossroads is an HCPA-engaged member and Silver Award recipient; HCPA acts as an ecosystem partner and quality standards body rather than direct competitor, but its member directory shapes referral dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/crossroadscfl
• Xx.com/crossroads_cfl
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrossroadsCaringForLife

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crossroads Caring For Life